UCLA entices Savage away from UCI

Barry Faulkner

John Savage, who in three seasons as coach took the UC Irvine

baseball program from a 10-year hiatus to the school’s first berth in

the NCAA Division I regional, has been hired away by UCLA, it was

announced Thursday.

Savage, hired by then-UCI Athletic Director Dan Guerrero to revive

an Anteater program dormant since it became a victim of budget cuts

following the 1992 season, was lured to Westwood by Guerrero.

Guerrero left UCI after nine years as A.D. in July, 2002 to take the

same job at UCLA, for which he played baseball.

Savage replaces Gary Adams, who retired following the 2004 season

after 30 seasons at the Bruins’ helm. Ironically, Adams came to UCLA

after five seasons as UCI’s inaugural baseball coach.

Savage cited mixed emotions about leaving UCI, but said his

decision came down to the opportunity to work at a school renowned

for athletic success.

“There’s that tradition and the Pac 10 Conference and just the

fact that UCLA is a four-letter word that can get you into any

household in the country,” Savage said during a phone interview

following a press conference Thursday at UCLA.

“I can’t say enough about the way [Athletic Director] Bob

Chichester and Chancellor [Ralph J.] Cicerone treated me at UCI. They

made me believe we could be a national power and I still think it has

a legitimate chance to be one. But the potential of what you can do

here at UCLA, and in the Pac 10, was too big a draw. My heart and

soul was at Irvine and a lot of it still is. It’s so difficult to

leave the players, who are the heartbeat of a program.”

Savage acknowledged that UCI matched the financial package he will

receive at UCLA, a factor that heightened UCI’s disappointment over

his departure.

“Students, faculty, staff and community members are very pleased

with Coach Savage’s work at UCI,” Cicerone said. “It was less than 2

1/2 years ago that UCI played its first NCAA Division I baseball game

since 1992, and we have made fantastic progress in a very short time.

We are fully committed to maintaining that momentum. Thanks to

generous support for our baseball program from donors past and

present, we were able to match UCLA’s offer as we understood it. We

are disappointed that Coach Savage has not elected to stay in Irvine

to build on his previous successes, but wish him the best in his new

endeavor.”

Savage was 88-84-1 at UCI, including a 34-18-1 mark in 2004. The

Anteaters tied for fourth in the Big West Conference, but joined Big

West powers Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State in the 64-team

regional field.

UCI lost to Arizona and Notre Dame in its first two regional games

in South Bend, Ind. and was eliminated.

Savage, however, said the Anteaters’ regional berth gave the

program a stamp of approval he had sought since taking the reins

before the 2002 campaign.

“The regional bid was a highlight, sweeping Long Beach State that

first year (2002) was clearly a highlight, and there were other big

wins,” Savage said. “We beat UCLA four times.”

Savage, who came to UCI after five years as the pitching coach and

recruiting coordinator at USC, is best known for his work with

pitchers. Among those he tutored at USC were 2002 American League Cy

Young Award winner Barry Zito and Chicago Cubs star Mark Prior.

UCI pitcher Brett Smith, who credited Savage with his development,

was drafted 42nd overall by the New York Yankees June 7 after his

junior season. Smith became the 16th pitcher coached by Savage to be

drafted in the first 10 rounds.

“What [Savage] accomplished in three seasons at UC Irvine is

phenomenal,” said UCLA Associate Athletic Director Ken Weiner, who

oversees baseball and was integral to the coaching search. “He is a

great fit for us, because his goal is to be nationally competitive

every year, he is an outstanding recruiter and teacher, and he is

familiar with the UC system.”

Guerrero was also pleased to be reunited with his former

colleague.

“This is an exciting day for the Bruin baseball program,” Guerrero

said. “John is an outstanding coach and a first-class person. During

his tenure at UC Irvine, he built the program from the ground up in

less than three seasons, placing the program in the national

spotlight and elevating his team to a ranking as high as No. 7 [by

Collegiate Baseball]. He is, arguably, the finest developer of

pitchers in the college game and his teams swing the bat well and

play fundamentally sound baseball. We are thrilled to bring him to

Westwood.”

Chichester said the school will work to fill the baseball coaching

vacancy as soon as possible.

Savage said he has recommended UCI hire Jason Gill, a three-year

Anteater assistant under Savage.

“I think Coach Gill would be an outstanding choice,” Savage said.

Savage becomes the second UCI athletic staffer in two months to

leave for UCLA. Patrina Long, a senior associate A.D. and senior

women’s administrator at UCI since 1993 was hired as associate A.D.

and senior women’s administrator by UCLA in May.